The internet search engine giant, Google Inc. has been imposed with a $14,300 or Euro 10,000 per day fine by a Paris court for copyright violations by Google in regards to its digital library initiative. The fine is supposed to be applicable for each day, the portions of books in question are displayed by Google. The French publication group, La Martiniere has also been awarded $430,000 in damages, payable by Google in the latest legal uproar over Google’s plans to digitize books and publications and show them on the internet.

Along with France, the legal regulators in the United States have also raised serious doubts over Google’s 5 year plan to scan books and publications from across the globe and the out it one the internet, providing free access to millions of users throughout the world. The regulators have warned the authorities that, such a move from Google could easily lead to Google dominating the electronic book industry and would also lead to a host of copyright violations.

According to Serge Eyrolles (President, Syndicat National de l’Edition),

“French readers now face the threat of losing access to a significant body of knowledge and falling behind the rest of Internet users. We believe that displaying a limited number of short extracts from books complies with copyright legislation both in France and the U.S. – and improves access to books.”

As per the lawsuit, Google has indexed nearly 100,000 French publications, out of which 80 percent of those indexed files are under copyright and thus has led to this recent stifle with the French authorities. However, those books in Google’s database that are under free licensing will be available for the users, even for the users in France.

Via Associated Press.